Wyoming Gray Wolf Recovery Status Report

From: USFWS Wyoming Wolf Recovery Project Leader, Jackson, WY

Subject: Status of Gray Wolf Management in Wyoming and the NRM

WYOMING WOLF WEEKLY- Sept. 20 through Sept. 24, 2010

Web Address – USFWS reports (past weekly and annual reports) can be viewed at http://westerngraywolf.fws.gov . All weekly and annual reports are government property and can be used for any purpose. Please distribute as you see fit.

2009 Annual Report
The 2009 Interagency Annual Wolf (Canis lupus) Report for the NRM DPS in 2009 can be viewed on-line at http://westerngraywolf.fws.gov . The Idaho and Montana state sections of the annual wolf report are also available on-line at the websites for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks http://fwp.mt.gov/wildthings/management/wolf/default.html and Idaho Department of Fish and Game http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/cms/wildlife/wolves. The annual wolf report is composed of five Sections: 1) Montana; 2) Wyoming; 3) Idaho; 4) USFWS overview of dispersal, funding, litigation, and relevant publications; and 5) Tables and Figures of wolf population statistics and wolf depredations.

Litigation StatusWyoming: Oral arguments were heard in federal court in Cheyenne, WY on January 29 to address the state of Wyoming’s request that the USFWS accept the Wyoming Wolf Management Plan. A decision from Judge Allen Johnson is pending.

Northern Rocky Mountains: The U.S. Federal District Court in Missoula, Montana, issued an order on August 5, 2010, in Defenders of Wildlife et al. v. Salazar, CV 09-77-M-DWM and Greater Yellowstone Coalition v. Salazar, CV 09-82-M-DWM, which vacated the delisting of the Northern Rocky Mountain (NRM) Distinct Population Segment (DPS) of the gray wolf. In compliance with this order, wolves are again considered endangered throughout the NRM DPS except where they are classified as experimental populations (southern Montana, Idaho south of Interstate 90, and all of Wyoming).

MONITORING Wyoming: As of September 24, 2010, >28 wolf packs have denned throughout Wyoming (including all national parks) in 2010. We anticipate more breeding pairs will be identified this summer as additional den/rendezvous sites are located and reproduction is confirmed. Reproducing packs in Wyoming, Yellowstone National Park (YNP), and Grand Teton National Park (GTNP) include:

CONTROLWyoming: We continue to manage wolf population growth and wolf distribution to minimize chronic loss of livestock from wolves and promote wolf conservation by maintaining the Wyoming wolf population well above recovery objectives.

Fremont County: On 9/17/10, WY Wildlife Services confirmed calf was injured by wolves in the Wiggins Fork Pack, near Dubois, WY. The same producer lost another calf to wolves earlier this summer. Control ended when W.S. removed 3 wolves on 9/24/10.

Park County: On 9/16/10, USFWS and W.S. confirmed 4 calves were injured by wolves on a grazing allotment west of Cody. Control was completed when W.S. removed 2 wolves from the Hoodoo Pack.

*One foal was killed by wolves (recorded as confirmed), 2 horses were chased by wolves and injured when they were run through a fence (recorded as 1 confirmed and 1 probable), and 1 horse was chased by wolves and broke its leg when it was run over a cattle guard (recorded as probable). All 3 injured horses had to be euthanized.
** In addition to 18 confirmed cattle depredations (losses), 7 calves and 1 steer were also injured by wolves.

RESEARCH
Nothing to report at this time.

LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RELATED ACTIVITIES
Nothing to report at this time.

OUTREACH AND EDUCATION

Scott Becker (USFWS) spoke to a Natural Resource class from Northwest College in Powell about wolf ecology and management in Wyoming.

Retired USFWS biologist Carter Niemeyer’s memoirs of his career (WOLFER) will be coming out this fall. www.carterniemeyer.com

FURTHER INFORMATION
To request an investigation of livestock injured or killed by wolves, please contact the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Wildlife Services at (307)261-5336.